Device for preselection of the number of printed paper sheets

ABSTRACT

A printing press, having a pair of shiftable cylinders, a paper feed, means for operating said press and a control system. Apparatus for counting the printed paper sheets, including an escapement mechanism directly connected to the cylinders and means for setting the ratchet for a predetermined number of indexes. The ratchet being connected to the control system to regulate the same on completion of the printing of a predetermined number of sheets.

9 v ,4 United States Patem 1 1 1111 3,734,016 Jiruse 1 1 May 22, 1973 (54] DEVICE FOR PRESELECTION OF THE 1,371,454 3/1921 Van Kuren ..l16/73 NUMBER OF PRINTED PAPER SHEETS 2,756,672 7/1956 George ..101 144 2,916,988 12 1959 Cragg.... .....101 144 [751 Invenm J Blanskm 3,034,427 5/1962 Ostwald 101/144 czechoskvakla 3,056,346 l0/l962 Gammeteret al.... .....101 144 [73] Assigneez Adamovske stmjimy, Namdni pom 3,102,470 9/1963 Cragg et al. ..101/144 nik, Adamov, Czechoslovakia Primary ExaminerJ. Reed Fisher [22] led: 1970 Attorney-Richard Low and Murray Schaffer [21] Appl. No.: 100,144

[57] ABSTRACT [30] Foreign Application Priority Data A printing press, having a pair of shiftable cylinders, a

Dec 28 1969 Czechoslovakia 8531/69 paper feed, means for operating said press and a control system. Apparatus for counting the printed paper [52] 11.8. Cl ..101/232, 101/247 Sheets including an escapemem mechanism directly 51 Int. Cl. ...B41l 39 02, B4ll 39/14 nnected the cylinders and means setting the [58] Field of Search ratchet for a predetermined number of indeXeS- The 101/141445 21g 247 22 232 233-234; ratchet being connected to the control system to regu- 11 /73; 235 103 1035 123 1 9 11 19 A late the same on completion of the printing of a predetermined number of sheets. [56] References Cited 9 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTED HAY 2 2 I975 SHEET 2 BF 3 INVENTOR JfWwLm/ 6 BY @TTOR Y DEVICE FOR PRESELECTION OF THE NUMBER OF PRINTED PAPER SHEETS BACKGROUND OF INVENTION The present invention relates to printing machines of the like and in particular to a counter for determining the number of sheets printed and for controlling the operation thereof.

Counting devices, particularly adjustable counting devices, are a necessary and required adjunct of printing machines for determining and selecting the number of sheets printed and for automatically stopping the printing operation of the machine. Among the conventional devices there are both electrical and mechanical counters which may be preset to a selected number and which provide a signal or impulse by which the operation of the machine may be discontinued and the printing cylinders disengaged. In general, such devices are complex and require an intermediate mechanism between the counter and the disengagement mechanism or the means for discontinuing the machine's operation.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved mechanism for counting printed sheets and for controlling the operation of the printing press.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a mechanism for counting and controlling the operation of a printing press which may be operatively located to directly control the cylinder disengagement mechanism.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a simple and inexpensive device for counting sheets and controlling motive power supplied to the printing press.

The above objects, others, as well as numerous advantages of the present invention will be set forth in the following description.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION According to the present invention a printing press, provided with the conventional cylinders, shiftable with respect to each other, an impulse or electrical control system, a motor power source and paper feed mechanism is provided with counting apparatus for counting a selected number of sheets and for thereafter controlling the electric pulse system. The apparatus comprises a ratchet wheel journalled about a shaft and an escapement pawl for incrementally rotating the ratchet. The pawl is linked to one of the cylinders so as to be activated in direct response thereto to index the ratchet a predetermined degree once each cycle of the cylinder. The ratchet is provided with means for counting rotating it a preset or predetermined number of indexes, and means connected to the impulse control responsive to the rotation of the predetermined number of indexes to activate or deactivate the control system.

Preferably the predeterminin'g index is provided by a cogged disk and a lever having a tab engageable with it. The lever is resiliently clutched to the ratchet so as to be movable conjointly in the counter rotating direction. Release means are provided for selectively holding the ratch when rotated.

It is further preferred that the release means be actuable at the end of the predetermined index (i.e., at end of printing cycle) to release the ratchet, when the press cylinders are separated to thereby automatically reset the counter.

Other details of the present invention, as well as a full description of the entire machine is shown in the accompanying drawings and in the following description.

In the following description only so much of a printing press as is necessary for an understanding of the present invention is shown. Reference is made for more complete details of a press to Offset Lithography, by L. E. Lawson, Vista Books, London, 1963 and Photo- Offset Fundamentals, by John E. Gogoli, McKnight and McKnight Publ. Company, Bloomington, Illinois, 1960. Other references, patents etc., are also readily available and well known to those skilled in this art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a fragmentary section of a printing press incorporation the counter of the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a vertical section of the mechanism shown in FIG. 1 taken in the direction of arrow P, as seen in FIG. 1, and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view through lines B-B of F IG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION As seen in the drawings the apparatus comprises a central, horizontally extending shaft 1, fixed to a wall 2 or other frame support of a conventional printing press, offset machine, or the like. The shaft 1 is provided with an axial bore 1a extending inwardly from its outer end. .lournalled about the shaft 1 in serial axial relation, is a lever 3 extending radially from a hub 3a; a circular ratchet wheel 4 and a double armed lever 5 having a depending long arm 5a and an upwardly extending shorter arm 5b. The lever 3 is provided with a projection 6 midway along its length, and is urged axially outward along the shaft by a spring 7 located within the bore 1a. The spring 7 engages a C-clamp or other suitable washer 3b secured within the inner surface of the hub 3a. The lever arm 3 has an axially extending tab 8 at its upper end which is adapted to enter into engagement with any one of a plurality of teeth or cogs 9a arranged about the periphery of a disk 9 which is coaxially mounted about the hub 30. The tooth disk 9 is fixedly mounted to the supporting wall 2 by means of several elongated bolts 10.

Located radially offset from the shaft 1 is a shaft 11 on which is swingably mounted an arm 12. Pivoted about a pin 13 at the end of the arm 12 is an elongated hooked escapement pawl member 14 which is adapted to engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel 4. Pivoted about a point 15 located along the arm 12 is an elongated rod 16 which extends angularly outward and has pivotally fastened to it at its outer end 17, a link 18. The link 18 is fastened at its upper end to a spindle 19 rotatably journalled within a sleeve 20 extending fixedly in a horizontal axis within the wall 2. The link 18 is normally urged against a stop pin 21 by a spring 22 anchored between the lower end of the lin 18 and an anchor pin 23 fixed to the wall 2. A cam follower 24 is rotatably secured about a bearing 25 at the end of an arm 26 which itself is fixedly secured to the rotatable spindle 19 so that the link 18 and arm 26 are conjointly, displaceable about the axis of the spindle 19.

The cam follower 24 rides against a contoured cam 27, having a raised portion 27a. The cam 27 is secured for conjoint relation with the cylinder 28 of the printing press. (The cylinder 28 may be the impression, printing or other mechanism of the press of conventional type and may be driven directly or indirectly by contact with the cooperating ink, print or other cylinder.) The cylinder 28 is supported on an axial shaft 29 mounted at one end on the wall 2, its other end may be mounted on a parallel wall or a frame support, in a manner which is well known. The shaft 29 fixedly journals a dependingly extending disengagement lever 30 having a projection 31 at its upper end and an extending pin 30a at its lower end. The pin 30a is connected to the mechanism for causing the cylinder to shift into or out of engagement with each other. This mechanism may be controlled by the impulse control means.

Looking upwardly toward the projection 6 extending from the control lever it will be seen that the ratchet wheel 4 secures a stop pin 32 extending transversely from both its front and rear faces. The forward end of the pin 32 is engaged by one end of a torsionspring 33 wound about and anchored to the hub 38 or hub of ratchet 4. The rear end of the pin 32 engages an extending toothed portion 34 located at the upper end of the shorter arm b of the lever 5. The lever 5 is itself rotatingly urged counter-clockwise by a spring 36 anchored at one end to an eyelet in the lower end of the lever arm 5a and to an anchor pin 37 secured to the frame or wall support 2. An operating impulse control rod 38 is pivoted and connected to a point 39 adjacent to the lower end of the lever 5 and extends angularly outwards from the shaft 1 to a suitable control means such as a micro-switch, relay solenoid or the like by which one or more impulses can be obtained for controlling the operation of a conventional sheet feed means, cylinder placement means, motor control and other operating devices. At the start of operation of the impulse control rod 38 is positioned with respect to the impulse control means so as to permit the feed and operation of the press, however at the end of the operating cycle it is moved so as to cause the shut-down of the paper feed means, shift the cylinders and terminate actual printing.

At a point 40 midway at the upper end of lever arm 5b there is pivotally connected one end of a link 41 which is connected at its other end midway between the ends of an elongated link 43 which depends toward the shaft 29. The link 43 is provided at its lower end, with a tooth 44 which projects normally to be engaged by the projecting ledge 31a on the cylinder disengagement lever 30. The upper end of the elongated link 43 is connected at a point 45, to a release pawl 46 adapted to engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel 4. The pawl 46 is pivoted about at a point 47 which is located between the connection 45 and the operative end of the release pawl 46. The pawl 46 is itself urged into engagement with the teeth of the ratchet 4 by a spring 48 which is connected to its rearmost end and to an anchor 49 secured to the wall 2 of the printing press. The combined linkages 41, 43 and pawl 46 provide a mechanism for holding the ratchet wheel 4 against unwanted counter clockwise movement on operation of the counting pawl 14 but also permitting the selective release of the ratchet when desired so that when the ratchet wheel 4 can be released and returned to an initial starting position.

Mounted above the rear end of the pawl 46 is a cam mechanism comprising a shaft 51 mounted through the supporting wall 2. The shaft mounts a shaped finger 51 which is adapted to be selectively moved against the rear end of the pawl 46. Secured to the shaft 51 is a release control or hold lever 54 which can selectively activate the finger 51. Finally, the hub 3a of the control lever 3 is provided with a knob 52 and a dial 53 on which are drawn numbers and line indicia (FIG. 1) indicating the number of sheets to be printed. The spacing of the indicia and their numbers correspond to the number of teeth on the indexing disk 9.

The operation of the mechanism is as follows:

Before starting the operation of the printing press itself, the knob 52 is rotated to a selected number indicative of the number of sheets predetermined to be printed. The knob 52 is rotated by first pushing it in against the axial action of the spring 7 which results in disengagement of the tab 8 from the cogs of the indexing disk 9. By swiveling the knob 52 the tab 8 is simultaneously moved to the selected number of sheets to be printed and when the knob is released the spring secures the tab within the corresponding cog 9a of the indexing disk. v

Due to the pressure of the torsion spring 33, between the hub 3a and the ratchet wheel 4, the ratchet wheel 4 is simultaneously clutched and turned counterclockwise from the position seen in full lines in FIG. 3 to the position 32' seen in dotted lines and until the stop pin 32 bears against the projection 6 extending from the lever 3. The control lever 51 is also manually rotated from the vertical position 0 (dotted lines) to the horizontal position I (full lines) as seen in FIG. 3. The lever 51 is thus moved so that it is maintained out of contact with pawl 46. permitting the pawl to be automatically operated by the lever 43 as hereinafter described.

The printing cylinders are then engaged by drawing the offset cylinder 28 into contact with the inking impression or other operative cylinders by movement of the lever 30. The movement of the lever 30 is effected through conventional linkages with its end 30a. Since such mechanism are quite conventional in the art, it is not shown in the drawing nor is it believed necessary to be more fully described herein. On engagement of the cylinder 28 with its counterpart the cam 27 is placed into engagement with the cam follower roller 24. In this condition motor power is applied from a conventional source to the rotating cylinders and presses so that the printing is consequently affected. The rod 38 being positioned so that switch mechanism or motor control to which it is connected is permitted to operate. During this time the cylinder 28 is rotated carrying between it and the printing press, the sheets of paper. Each rotation of cylinder 28 carrying a single sheet of paper and corresponding to a single printing.

For each rotation of the cylinder 28, the cam 27 is simultaneously rotated. During this rotation the highpoint of the edge 27a swings the lever link 18 outwardly. The outward swing of the link 18 pulls the rod 16 to the right as seen in FIG. 3. Each pull of the rob 16 causes the pawl 14 to index the ratchet 4 clockwise, since the pawl 14 is actively engaged in the teeth of the ratchet wheel 4. The ratchet wheel is consequently stepped clockwise against the initial bias created by the rotation of the knob 52 for each passage of a sheet through cylinder 28. This rotation of the ratchet wheel 4 is contrary to the pressure of the torsion spring 33 which during each movement, the ratchet wheel 4 maintains its counter-clockwise bias, being held by projection 6 on the lever 5. The provision of the retaining pawl 46, however, prevents the release or escape of the ratchet 4 during the continued rotation of the cylinder 28 and operation of the escapement pawl 14. Meanwhile, the presence of the low point of the cam 27 causes return of the link 18, which is normally biased by the spring 22. This permits the pawl 14 to slide, in a counter-clockwise direction, over the teeth of the ratchet 4 so as to engage the next succeeding tooth. The release pawl 46 still remaining fixed and holding the ratchet weel against any backward or counterclockwise movement. The continued rotation of the cylinder 28 causes cyclical oscillation of the link 18, the lever 16 in the manner described and consequently results stepwise indexing of the ratchet 4. Since the rotation of the cylinder and the movement of the ratchet are in direct relation, each click or cogging of the ratchet 4 is equivalent to the passing of a printed sheet between the cylinder 28 and the printing cylinders of the press.

The repetitive operation of the linkages and ratchet continues until the ratchet wheel 4 rotates fully counter-clockwise from the position 32' to the point where the rearward protruding end of the stop pin 32 bears against the projection 34 secuted on the upper end 5b of the lever 5, (see FIG. 2). The engagement of the pin 32 with the projection 34 causes the clockwise movement of the lever 5, as seen in FIG. 3 so as to carry the impulse control rod 38 to the left causing it to activate or deactivate the control system for the paper fee and the cylinder placement means and/or the motor means. The impulse control rod 38 may, for example operate a micro-switch, a solenoid, or other suitable control or impulse device which will provide an electrical or mechanical signal to the conventional paper feed mechanism. The working cycle of the press is completed.

Simultaneously the clockwise movement of lever 5 shifts the linkages 41 and 43 to the right so as to be ready to be engagedwith the ledge 31a on the projection 31 of the disengagement lever 30. Upon completion of the printing operation of the last sheet fed into the press, the printing cylinders are disengaged through the aforementioned mechanism operating upon the lever 30. As a result, the shaft 29 and the projection 31 are displaced so that the ledge 31a engages with the tooth 44 at the end of the link 43. The ledge 31a displaces the link 43 downwardly so as to lift the release pawl 46 from engagement with the ratchet 4. Thus the ratchet wheel 4 which has been progressively counter biased by its rotation opposite to the torsion spring 33 is released and is automatically returned to the initial starting position shown as 32 (FIG. 3). Thus the working cycle of the press i.e.: the printing of a preselected printing of a number of sheets) can be repeated. Of course a different number of sheets may now be determined and can be set by rotation of knob 52.

It will, of course, be noted that the actual counting of the preselected number of sheets is made automatically and as a direct consequence of the rotation of one of the printing cylinders (e.g.: 28) and at the end of the count both the paper feed mechanism and the printing mechanism are tripped off so that the counter itself directly controls the machine. Simultaneously the counter is reset to its starting position so that the following cycle may proceed automatically.

In the event that the printing cylinders are disengaged, even though the counter has not counted its preselected number of sheets, the ratchet wheel 4 is prevented from being released and reset since the lever 5 is not rotated and the contacting tooth 44 at the end of the link 43 is not placed in a position so as to be engaged by the projecting ledge 31a. Thus, even though the disengagement lever 30 is actuated the release pawl 46 remains in engagement with the ratchet wheel 4 and allows the counting mechanism to hold its position until the printing cylinders are reengaged and actual printing of paper sheets is continued. Upon restarting of the printing cylinders, the counter counts the remaining number of the preselection until the predetermined total is obtained. Thus stoppage of the press cylinders, as for example, to repair or reset the printing cylinders, to remove misprinted sheets, or to correct the linking of the printing press, may be affected without having to reset the ratchet wheel 4 or even the counting mechanism.

In the event an unlimited or indefinite number of printed sheets is required to release hold lever 54 is actuated to the position 0 as shown in FIG. 1. The finger 51 can thus engage the rear end of the pawl 46, lifting the pawl 46 out of complete engagement with the ratchet wheel 4. As a result, the pawl 14 and ratchet 4 may oscillate forward and backward, continually without storing a count.

It will be seen that the present invention combines a mechanism insuring the accurate counting of printed sheets in direct relationship with the operation of the press cylinders themselves. The device also provides for the efficient and immediate discontinuance of either or both the paper feed and the press cylinder operation when the preselected number are obtained. Further, the device provides for the immediate resetting of the press so that subsequent printing cycles for predetermined number of sheets can be effected at once without any resetting operation of either the counter or the press. A further advantage lies in the fact that resetting of the selected number is not necessary each time a batch of printed sheets is made. Still another advantage is found in that even in the event that the machine is stopped, for any reason, resetting of the counter is not required and restarting of the machine operation may be quickly and easily effected. Above all, the present invention provides a simple and inexpensive mechanism.

It will be obvious that many modifications and changes may be made to the specific details described herein and the invention may take many forms. The present description is, therefore, intended to be illustrative only and not limiting in any way.

What is claimed:

1. Apparatus for counting the number of sheets to be printed and for controlling the operation of the printing press, offset machine or the like having at least a pair of cooperating printing cylinders designed to print a single paper sheet during a single rotation thereof, and means for feeding a paper sheet to said machine and motor mechanism for said press, said apparatus comprising, a supporting wall on which is mounted at least one of said cylinders, a shaft mounted on said supporting wall, a ratchet wheel journalled on said shaft, means including a first pawl linked to one of said cylinders for incrementally rotating said ratchet wheel in response to the cyclical rotation of said one cylinder, said ratchet wheel having a projection extending outwardly therefrom, a link operatively connected to said means for feeding the paper sheet and adapted to move into contact with said projection, said link located at a predetermined point along the path of said ratchet wheel and means for counter-rotating said ratchet wheel to preset such ratchet wheel for a predetermined number of incremental movements prior to the engagement of said projection means and said link, whereby said ratchet wheel is caused to count a predetermined number of cylinder cycles and to thereafter operate means for feeding the paper sheet.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for counter rotating said ratchet includes a disk arranged about said shaft coaxially with said ratchet having a plurality of cogs thereon corresponding to the increment of movement of said ratchet, a lever journalled on said shaft and having means for engagement with said disk, unidirectional clutch means interconnecting said lever and said ratchet to cause rotation of said disk simultaneously with said ratchet and said lever on operation of said first pawl.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said lever is provided with a knob having indicia thereon indicative of the incremental displacement thereof.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 including means for selectively displacing the press cylinders into and out of engagement with each other and a second pawl pivotally secured to said support, and resiliently biased into engagement with said ratchet wheel to secure the same against counter movement, said second pawl being connected to said link said connecting means being moved into engagement with said means for displacing said cylinder on rotation of said ratchet wheel through the predetermined incremental movement, said connecting means and said cylinder displacement means cooperating to lift said second pawl from engagement with said ratchet means on completion of the incremental rotation of said ratchet wheel to thereby permit release said ratchet wheel.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said one cylinder is provided with a contoured cam, and said means for incrementally rotating said ratchet includes a cam follower adapted to ride against said cam, said cam follower being connected to said first pawl, said cam having a preselected contoured cam surface adapted to displace said cam follower so as to move said first pawl for each rotation of said cylinder.

6. In a printing press having at least a pair of cylinders, a paper feed, motive means for operating said press and paper feed, and a control system for activating said operating means, apparatus comprising a ratchet and pawl escapement mechanism, means for indexing said ratchet a predetermined distance from a given point, including means for releasably securing said indexing means at selected positions about said ratchet whereby said indexing means is adjustable with respect to said ratchet, means for linking said pawl to one of said cylinders and actuable in direct response to the rotation thereof, to step said ratchet through predetermined increments in a reverse direction for each rotation of said cylinder, and means connected to said ratchet for operating said control system when said ratchet is reversed the full distance to said given point.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6 including clutch means connecting said ratchet and indexing means together for conjoint unidirectional movement and relative movement opposite thereto to thereby enable the cylinder of said ratchet to be varied.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7 including means for securing said ratchet against movement during incremental movement of said indexing means in the opposite direction.

9. The apparatus according to claim 7 including means for releasing said securing means on return of said ratchet to the given point. 

1. Apparatus for counting the number of sheets to be printed and for controlling the operation of the printing press, offset machine or the like having at least a pair of cooperating printing cylinders designed to print a single paper sheet during a single rotation thereof, and means for feeding a paper sheet to said machine and motor mechanism for said press, said apparatus comprising, a supporting wall on which is mounted at least one of said cylinders, a shaft mounted on said supporting wall, a ratchet wheel journalled on said shaft, means including a first pawl linked to one of said cylinders for incrementally rotating said ratchet wheel in response to the cyclical rotation of said one cylinder, said ratchet wheel having a projection extending outwardly therefrom, a link operatively connected to said means for feeding the paper sheet and adapted to move into contact with said projection, said link located at a predetermined point along the path of said ratchet wheel and means for counter-rotating said ratchet wheel to preset such ratchet wheel for a predetermined number of incremental movements prior to the engagement of said projection means and said link, whereby said ratchet wheel is caused to count a predetermined number of cylinder cycles and to thereafter operate means for feeding the paper sheet.
 2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for counter rotating said ratchet includes a disk arranged about said shaft coaxially with said ratchet having a plurality of cogs thereon corresponding to the increment of movement of said ratchet, a lever journalled on said shaft and having means for engagement with said disk, unidirectional clutch means interconnecting said lever and said ratchet to cause rotation of said disk simultaneously with said ratchet and said lever on operation of said first pawl.
 3. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said lever is provided with a knob having indicia thereon indicative of the incremental displacement thereof.
 4. The apparatus according to claim 1 including means for selectively displacing the press cylinders into and out of engagement with each other and a second pawl pivotally secured to said support, and resiliently biased into engagement with said ratchet wheel to secure the same against counter movement, said second pawl being connected to said link said connecting means being moved into engagement with said means for displacing said cylinder on rotation of said ratchet wheel through the predetermined incremental movement, said connecting means and said cylinder displacement means cooperating to lift said second pawl from engagement with said ratchet means on completion of the incremental rotation of said ratchet wheel to thereby permit release said ratchet wheel.
 5. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said one cylinder is provided with a contoured cam, and said means for incrementally rotating said rAtchet includes a cam follower adapted to ride against said cam, said cam follower being connected to said first pawl, said cam having a preselected contoured cam surface adapted to displace said cam follower so as to move said first pawl for each rotation of said cylinder.
 6. In a printing press having at least a pair of cylinders, a paper feed, motive means for operating said press and paper feed, and a control system for activating said operating means, apparatus comprising a ratchet and pawl escapement mechanism, means for indexing said ratchet a predetermined distance from a given point, including means for releasably securing said indexing means at selected positions about said ratchet whereby said indexing means is adjustable with respect to said ratchet, means for linking said pawl to one of said cylinders and actuable in direct response to the rotation thereof, to step said ratchet through predetermined increments in a reverse direction for each rotation of said cylinder, and means connected to said ratchet for operating said control system when said ratchet is reversed the full distance to said given point.
 7. The apparatus according to claim 6 including clutch means connecting said ratchet and indexing means together for conjoint unidirectional movement and relative movement opposite thereto to thereby enable the cylinder of said ratchet to be varied.
 8. The apparatus according to claim 7 including means for securing said ratchet against movement during incremental movement of said indexing means in the opposite direction.
 9. The apparatus according to claim 7 including means for releasing said securing means on return of said ratchet to the given point. 